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[stratford]

I am tenured at my school and now is taking a one year leave to work at my spouse's school as a term faculty.  Recently my school asked whether I will go back.

If I go back, my spouse needs to find another job close to my school since currently my school has no immediate opening. If I do not go  back, I will give up my tenure.

I talked to the department chair at my spouse's school (we work at different departments but at same college). He said it is possible to convert a term position to a tenure position.  But he would not tell  when and how. 

My term position is three years.    If there is an opening by that time, it does not look like the department will hire in my field since there are already several faculty working in the similar field.  I am concerned because recently a term faculty in another department had to leave because that department wanted to hire a tenure faculty. 

Should I stay and work hard so that they convert me to a tenure faulty or just go back to my school and enjoy my tenure?

[zharkov]

I talked to the department chair at my spouse's school (we work at different departments but at same college). He said it is possible to convert a term position to a tenure position.  But he would not tell  when and how. 

...

Should I stay and work hard so that they convert me to a tenure faulty or just go back to my school and enjoy my tenure?

That chair seems awfully non committal.  Reading between the lines, I have to wonder if he's really saying, "It ain't gonna happen."  No matter how hard you work.

[hegemony]

What you decide to do depends on many variables, including the distance between the schools, your career vs. your spouse's, what you have negotiated between the two of you, etc.

That said, I think the chances of the three-year position being converted to tenure-track are very, very small.  I won't say it could never happen, but I will say that it won't happen.  It would require all kinds of administrative contortions and negotiations, first to get the position converted, and then to hire you in it, and I imagine you have no leverage.  Usually the only window of opportunity for a spousal hire is when the other spouse is being hired for the primary job.  Your spouse could threaten to leave unless you're hired, but this will only be effective if your spouse is a superstar, and sometimes not even then. 

Sometimes departments intend to convert short-term lines to tenure-track jobs, just coincidentally; but they rarely do it as fast as they say, even if they do it, which they usually don't.

In short, don't stay in the hope that your job will be converted to a tenure-track line and you'll get it.  Either stay knowing it won't, or go back knowing the job would not have been converted if you had stayed.

[lizzy]

Chime to Zharkov and Hegemony. From what you've said, it doesn't appear that this place is offering you any reason to believe that the position will be converted, let alone with you in it. And, given the job market, it would be a real risk to give up tenure.

You haven't said if your spouse has tenure or will be willing to give up the current job for one closer to yours. But, focused primarily on you and your prospects, if you want job security go back to your tenured position; wait and see what happens with your spouse's job and perhaps make changes in the future.

[mleok]

I would suggest going back to your tenured position unless you are content to leave academia to be with your spouse. Don't do this unless your spouse is tenured, and is paid adequately to support a household on a single income.

Otherwise, the both of you should stay in your respective institutions, and apply for jobs, so as to open up the possibility of a spousal hire as part of a counteroffer, or even a dual offer if you hit the jackpot.

[fiona]

I would never give up tenure.

The Fiona

[stratford]

Thanks for all the input. 

We pondered over all options.  Every time we went through these options with solution.

Going back means we will see each other only a few times a year. The kids will only see one of us.  Over the years we applied different schools and tried to be closer but none worked out. When my spouse got the offer from the current school, that is the closest to my school.

 There are a few openings close to my school that my spouse can apply. Even it is a success, an offer can only be made around March.  But between now and end of this year my school is expecting an answer from me whether I will go back.

[larryc]

Going back means we will see each other only a few times a year. The kids will only see one of us. 

Ouch. No career is worth that. Not to me anyway--your mileage may vary. I would keep the term position and work hard on two tracks to 1) make yourself valuable in the hopes that they keep you and 2) begin to put out feelers and develop skills to find a job outside of academia.

[wirtanen]

Wait a few months and then ask for a second year's leave of absence from your current institution. It will help your case if you put something substantial behind your request so it looks like you're doing it for professional reasons, like a collaboration, or learning a new technique. It will help them to say "okay".

Another year will help you figure it all out. You both need to see the kids regularly. also, unless I missed it, you didn't say whether your spouse has tenure. Suppose he/she is terminated in this awful economic climate? Then you'll need to return to your job.

[prevprofmd]

Such a painful situation. Wonder if you have any updates?

[aprilmay]

Agree with the earlier posts. This is very painful and you are risking giving up academia if you take the term position. It sounds likely that you will get a tt position at that school, or even that there will be an opening. Does your spouse have tenure? Can your spouse do a year away at your school? That will delay things a bit and let you see each other more. Although you need a decision soon, your spouse has some job possibilities nearer your current job. How awful are you going to feel if you give up tenure, and then the spouse gets an offer near your tenure position?

If you go with the term position, you can ask whether terms are renewed. In other words, is this 3-years only, or do people often get a renewal for another term? As would be giving up tenure, you might be able to negotiate for a longer term, say 4 years, or at least for the longest term they have available.

Going back means we will see each other only a few times a year. The kids will only see one of us. 

Can you explain the above? How far apart are we talking? I know couples who live across the country who see each other more than this. Is it a financial issue? And when you say "the kids will see one of us" do you mean they won't be on the trips, or that they'll only see the other person a few times a year? Can they live with one for a time and then the other until you and spouse figure out something better?

Good luck. It's great that you and spouse are talking it through.

[aprilmay]

It sounds likely that you will get a tt position at that school, or even that there will be an opening.

Sorry - I meant "unlikely that you will get a tt position."

[stratford]

Here is the update.

We told my previous school that we need some time to think. They may wait for a couple of more weeks but no more since they need to schedule Fall/2011 class. 

At our current school we tried to persuade the dean to either extend the contact or convert to a TT.  A request was made to the dean and department chair.  Chair wanted a committee to conduct a performance review. I am comfortable with my performance. Teaching is as good as any junior faculty, number of publications is above average, service is good. However, I am still concerned since I sense they are hesitate to make the conversation.

     

[stratford]

My spouse applied for a couple of schools within driving distance from my previous school. No interview yet. Looks like we will go back to old commuting days (5 hours: drive, fly, or train).  A friend (Faculty at another school) visited me recently and shared his version of story. His wife commuted between Princeton and New York for 3 years when he was a post-doc.  Not uncommon. :)